Power Rankings: Insperity Championship

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Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top 5 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

Fred Couples returns to The Woodlands this week to defend the title he won last year with a sizzling final-round 63. The winning round featured a back-nine 29 as Couples coasted to a seven-shot victory, his fourth of the 2010 Champions Tour season.

The tournament is now the Insperity Championship. Couples returns to Houston, where he starred in college. With last year's victory, Couples became only the second Champions Tour player to win a PGA TOUR and Champions events in the same city.

He also won the 2003 Shell Houston Open at Redstone (his last PGA TOUR win). Couples joined Tom Watson in that elite group. Watson won the 1980 British Open and the 2007 Senior British at Muirfield.

This week's Champions Tour Power Rankings for the Insperity Championship:

Power Rankings: Insperity Championship

Rank Player   Comment Fred COUPLES Back in Houston, where his comfort level soars and defending a title. Couples, trying to become a multiple winner this year, prepared for the Insperity by finishing fifth at Prestonwood C.C. John HUSTON He has become a prime-time player on the Champions Tour with top-10 finishes in four of his last five events to go along with his victory at the Dicks Sporting Goods Open. Besides, Huston/Houston has a nice ring to it. Mark CALCAVECCHIA A strong finish (68) capped another top 10 finish on the over-50 circuit. He's No. 2 on the Charles Schwab Cup points list, so there's plenty of motivation over the next three weeks leading up to Harding Park. Tom LEHMAN Season-long Charles Schwab Cup points leader is holding on to the top spot but a long list of challengers are lined up behind him. Lehman needs another big finish, probably two, to hold on to the bonus. Corey PAVIN Have to go with at least one non-winner because the Champions Tour has had three straight first-time winners. He was T5 last year at The Woodlands after leading through 36. Couldn't capitalize on fast start at SAS Championship.